Ben Young impressive on home soil

Canadian AMA Pro GoPro Daytona Sportbike rider Ben Young made an impressive debut at this past weekend’s MOPAR Canadian Superbike Championship Doubleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport).

This was the first ever race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the Thornbury, Ontario based racer even though he just lives three hours north of this iconic Canadian racing facility located in Bowmanville, ON. Young’s only previous visit to this track was last year during a track-day which was unfortunately shortened to 3 laps due to oil on the track.

Young took to the track for the first time of the weekend aboard his #86 BYR / Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Yamaha YZF-R6 to acquaint himself with the recently updated Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit and quickly adapted to, and fell in love with this long flowing circuit.

Young’s ability to adapt to a new track quickly became apparent during Friday morning’s practice session and then was confirmed with the Canadian pilot earning the 4th spot on the grid. This was Young’s first time starting on front row in the Sportbike class in both Canada and the U.S.

The Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Exhaust team’s excitement was quickly quashed after learning the #86 Yamaha YZF-R6’s motor had began to expire during the closing laps of the qualifying session. The team quickly assessed their options and sourced a stock replacement motor. Low on top-end speed Young knew he’d have his work cut out for him at this high-speed circuit and would have to rely on corner speed to be competitive.

The engine swap was successful however a secondary issue reared its ugly head. Young’s bike was now not starting placing the team and Young’s first ever SportBike race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in jeopardy.

Lead mechanic Scott Cartier, the crew and fellow racers/teams doggedly worked at diagnosing this latest gremlin and successfully replaced a temperamental E.C.U. just moments before gridding the bike for the first of the two Hindle Exhaust Pro Sportbike races of the weekend.

Starting from the front row in Saturday’s race Young launched his #86 BYR / Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Yamaha YZF-R6 off the line and dove into the first corner right behind points-leader and now three-time Canadian National Hindle Exhaust Pro Sport Bike Champion Jodi Christie.

Christie would eventually pull away leaving behind a three way battle between Young, Kristopher Garvie and John Ross MacRae for 2nd place.

Almost every lap there were numerous passes being made within the three rider pack.

“One lap J.R. and Kris did some rubbing down the back straight. I hung tight and on the last lap I passed J.R. for third going into corner 5 but he returned the favour and I couldn’t stay with him down the back straight due to the stock motor being down on horsepower.”

Young crossed the line in 4th with the ecstatic BYR / Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Exhaust team cheering him on.

Young and the team, relieved that all their hard work paid off, enjoyed the remainder of the day reconnecting with fellow racers, sponsors, family, friends and fans throughout the paddock.

In the second race of the Hindle Exhaust Pro Sportbike doubleheader Young set his sights on the podium. He once again launched off the front row in 3rd and passed Austin Shaw-O’Leary for second going into corner #2.

On the 3rd lap Young, Jodi Christie and John Ross MacRae opened up small gap on Kristopher Garvie and O’Leary. With Young, MacRae and Christie battling it out, it allowed Garvie and O’Leary to close the gap once again.

At roughly the halfway point of the race Young got passed by Garvie and O’Leary on the back straight and was shuffled back to 5th.

“I made a mistake and came out of corner #5 in third gear, which is normally a second gear corner. They pulled a little gap on me but I managed to pull that back in.” confessed Young.

With just two laps to go Young was going to leave nothing on the track and tried to overtake O’Leary in corner #1 but couldn’t make it stick, that lap. Young worked his #86 BYR / Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Yamaha YZF-R6 passed O’Leary once again going into corner #5. On the last lap he passed Garvie in corner #5 putting Young in contention for 3rd spot on the podium.

Giving everything he had the Thornbury-based pilot couldn’t hold them off down the back straight. Garvie eventually slipped past Young on one side and O’Leary along the other. Young would have to be content with crossing the start/finish line in 5th.

“I can’t complain with the results from this weekend considering all the problems we had to overcome to make it to the grid on Saturday! It was great to reconnect with so many fans of the sport and I can’t thank Scott Cartier enough for never giving up, as well as, Gilles Bolduc, Lee Hindle and the entire Tim Hortons (Sudbury) / Hindle Exhuast crew for believing in me and putting this together!” added Young.